Curse of the Condor (11 page)

Chapter 12

Jetta had awakened several times during the night with a feeling of unease about her. She'd looked over at Conrado, but he was sleeping with his back toward her, just as he was now. She had a dream about that condor that he said always followed him. It was actually a nightmare of the worse kind. It had landed atop Ryder and was pecking out his eyes. She picked up the blowgun to try to kill it, and killed her brother instead.

There was no way she could sleep now. Not after a horrid dream like that. She glanced out the cave entrance and noticed the sky beginning to lighten. She looked at her wristwatch, realizing it was almost morning. She'd just stay up and tend to the fire, she decided. That way it'd be nice and hot when Conrado cooked up that breakfast he promised. Then she thought of the way he made it sound. It was going to be something unappealing, she was sure of it.

Her stomach growled, and she told herself she could prepare a meal just as he could. She'd just go right outside the cave and maybe find a few berries to gather. Or maybe there'd be another one of those breadfruits lying on the ground.

She slid into her sandals and tiptoed past Conrado. He stirred restlessly, moaning in his sleep, and she wondered if he were having a nightmare too. He mumbled something she couldn’t decipher and tossed to his other side.

She took a moment to watch him in the light of the fire. His hands were under his head as he lay atop the straw mat. He looked uncomfortable and cold, lying there in wet shorts and no shirt. She tiptoed back to where she'd slept, and grabbed the blanket. Laying it atop him, she held her breath hoping he wouldn't wake. He mumbled in his sleep again and tossed toward her, throwing one arm out which landed on her knee.

She looked at his dark skin against her light skin. They were so different, yet she felt they were really so much the same.

She gently laid her hand atop his, reveling in the feel of his skin. She remembered the way that hand felt on her breast. And she remembered the way that hand painted a rose on her, marking her in a way as his own. Or at least she'd thought he had at the time, but now she knew she was wrong.

She'd wanted him, but he didn't really want her. She held back the tears that threatened to break her silence. She didn't need this kind of heartbreak this summer. She only needed to find Ryder and go home and forget she'd ever met Conrado. She moved his hand off her knee and sighed.

Who was she kidding? She no longer wanted to leave him. It was only her excuse to hide a hurt ego. She'd grown fond of him, and wanted to know him better. She reached out and brushed a strand of his hair from his face. Then she gently kissed the top of his head before getting to her feet.

She was about to leave the cave when she saw the blowgun propped up in the corner, the darts wrapped up next to it. She'd seen him with it when he killed the snake. It was easy, she told herself. You just loaded a dart into the hollow tube, put your mouth to the end and blow. She was a good aim. She’d be able to kill a rabbit or maybe even one of those brockets he was talking about. Wouldn't he be surprised when she was the one who came home with the breakfast?

She wanted desperately to prove herself to him for some reason. Or maybe she wanted to impress him so he'd like her again. She looked back at Conrado who was still tossing and turning in his sleep. Then she bent down, grabbed the blowgun and darts and headed out to hunt down breakfast.

Jetta didn't think she'd gone far from the cave, but with the dense understory of the rain forest, it didn't matter. She could be standing right next to the cave and she'd never see it with the way the plants and leaves crossed over each other. She'd never meant to be gone this long, or to get lost. The sun was rising, and she knew Conrado must have awakened by now. She feared how angry he’d be when he’d found out she’d gone, not to mention taken his blowgun. That in itself was scarier than being lost and alone.

The entire time she’d been hunting, she’d never even seen a mouse. The animals were probably there watching her, but she, unlike Conrado, wasn’t aware of their presence. She never even had the opportunity to load the blowgun flung across her back. She made her way through the tall foliage, pushing it aside and wishing she had brought the machete along as well.

A noise startled her up ahead, and a whole flock of yellow birds flew from a tree, causing her to jump. She held her breath and listened, hoping it was Conrado and not a predator stalking her. She knew now she was lost in the midst of the jungle, not knowing what the hell she was doing. But she had Conrado's blowgun, she told herself. So she was safe.

Then she heard a man's voice and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She thought it was Conrado at first, until she heard several other voices too. It didn't matter, she told herself. She was saved. She had someone who would guide her out of here, now all she had to do was find them.

"Hello?" she called, but the jungle was dense and she knew her voice didn't carry well. "Hello, anyone. I'm here. Can you hear me?"

She heard a sound of chattering up above, and looked up to see Chatter sitting in a branch, munching on some sort of fruit.

"Is that you, Chatter?" she asked, hoping she wasn’t mistaking the little monkey. If he was here, maybe that meant Conrado was looking for her after all. The monkey threw its remnants to the ground and took off into the canopy. "No! Come back," she called, but he just kept going.

Then she heard the voices again, and started to run towards them. They couldn't be that far. She had to find them before they left her just as Chatter had done.

She pushed back the vines and leaves, making her way toward the sounds. That's when she saw the spots of the jaguar disappearing into the brush ahead of her.

"Oh no!" she whispered, and stopped dead in her tracks. She wanted to call out again to the voices but didn't dare, for fear the jaguar would come for her instead.

She gripped the blowgun in her hands and fumbled with the cloth that held the darts. She had to be ready. She had to kill it before it killed her. She remembered Conrado said not to touch the tips of the arrows, so she grabbed them by the ends instead. She jammed one into the tube and was about to lift it to her mouth when something dropped from the trees right behind her. She whirled around, holding the blowgun up to her mouth, preparing to shoot.

Conrado's hand shot out and grabbed it from her. His eyes blazed fire.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Conrado! You scared me," she said. "I  thought you were the jaguar I spotted in the brush."

"I'm not the jaguar," he told her. "And you never should have touched my blowgun. I ordered you not to."

"Well, I don't take orders from anyone," she rallied. "I've had enough of you ordering me around," she said. "I'm tired of following you aimlessly through the jungle. I'm not so sure anymore you even know where Ryder is."

"I told you I did," came his solemn voice. "Why don't you believe me?"

"Because you've avoided my questions about him and have given me no real proof you're who you say you are. For all I know, you're some pervert who's taken me into the jungle to have his way with me before he kills me."

"I've already had plenty of chances," he told her, "and I've done neither. That should say something to you, shouldn't it?"

Another voice, and this time Conrado’s head snapped up.

"I'm going to go back with whoever that is," she told him and opened her mouth to call out to them.

"Don't," he said, clasping his hand over her mouth. Then he grabbed her around the waist, clutched a vine and swung off to the side.

"What are you doing?" She struggled with him as he pulled her along with him and he jumped off a ledge, swinging on the vine with her up into a tree. He pulled her to the side to hide behind the trunk.

"You let go of me and let me do what I want," she said.

Then she followed his gaze and could see three men making their way through the brush carrying big burlap sacks with them. They were Peruvian, dressed in missionary robes with big metal crosses hanging around their necks.

"Who are they?" she asked, keeping her voice quiet.

She looked at him, and he had a strange look on his face. She couldn't quite identify it, but she knew whoever the men were, they were triggering off a reaction in him.

"They're no one you want to go with," he told her. "Believe me, you're much better off with me."

"They look like missionaries," she surveyed. “Maybe they are going to join Ryder.” Excitement coursed through her, thinking she was near her brother. Maybe they could join up with these men and go to Ryder together.

"They’re not missionaries," he grunted. “My guess is they’re nothing but trouble.”

“How can you say that?”

“They don’t have a guide, but yet they are venturing deeper into the jungle.”

“They might be lost, like I was.”

“They aren’t carrying many supplies, except for nearly empty burlap bags. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”

“Maybe they’ve used up all their supplies.”

“And they’re carrying guns.”

“Guns?” She squinted, trying to see the men clearly, but couldn’t see any weapons. “I don’t see guns. You must be mistaken.”

“Jetta, they have the holsters under their robes. And they’re wearing hiking boots. Not the normal attire of a missionary. Believe me, you don’t want to go anywhere near these men.”

She suddenly felt a surge of apprehension. Why were these men in the jungle? She hoped Ryder had nothing to do with them.

“Why would they have guns?” she asked slowly.

"Because they - ” he hesitated as if he'd changed his mind of what he was going to say. "They're poachers."

“Poachers?” She nodded, but knew better than to believe that. Wouldn’t a poacher have a rifle? And wouldn’t it be in his hands instead of hidden under his clothes? Something was very wrong here. Conrado knew more than he was letting on, and she didn’t like it. She was more anxious than ever to get to Ryder now. Suddenly, she didn’t know who she could trust. But one thing was for sure. She wouldn’t rest well until they met up with her brother.

Conrado cursed himself for being so infatuated with Jetta that he hadn’t even known he was being followed. He didn’t want to alarm Jetta that these men might be out to kill him, so he’d told her they were poachers. Not that she believed him, but he had to try.

Conrado had been so careful these past few months to keep in hiding and not leave a trail. But lately, he’d been so preoccupied with his thoughts of Jetta and how he was going to tell her about Ryder, that he’d forgotten all his Jivaro training. He wondered if these men were the authorities posing as missionaries to protect themselves from jungle tribes. He didn’t think so. Or they could be running from the law themselves.

How’d these men get so far without a guide? And how did they get so deep in the jungle without him noticing it? He didn’t know, but one thing he was sure of was that this all had something to do with Ryder’s death.

These weren’t the same missionaries that he’d led into the jungle along with Ryder. In fact, these weren’t missionaries at all. He’d have to get a closer look to know what they were up to, but that was impossible as long as Jetta was with him. He couldn’t leave her alone for a moment. She’d proved that more than once on this trip already. From now on he’d have to sleep with one eye open.

He had to get Jetta to the Yagua camp quickly, where he knew she’d be safe. “Come on,” he told her. “Let’s get our supplies and be on our way.”

Chapter 13

Conrado hurried Jetta along, only letting her stop once the entire day. He’d cooked up some lunch which she ate without complaining, and while she cleaned up, he’d climbed a tree and looked for the men who followed.

This was the third time he’d checked for them, and now he was sure he’d thrown them off their trail. None of them looked like they knew their way around the jungle, and without a guide they’d be slowed down considerably.

“What do you keep looking for?” she asked when he swung down from the tree.

“Nothing.”

“You’re looking for those men, aren’t you? You think they’re following us.”

“I don’t know who they are or what they want, but I’m just making sure you’re safe.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Are you saying those men might be after me?”

“I’m saying nothing of the sort. Now let’s get going.”

“So,” she asked as she walked. “What was that you made for lunch?”

“Why?” he asked. “Did you enjoy it?”

“Well,” she said, stopping and turning toward him. “That all depends on what it was.”

"I can't tell you."

Chatter dropped down from the trees, landing on his shoulder. The monkey made so much noise that Conrado tossed it a fig and sent it on its way just so he could be alone with Jetta.

"Oh, yes you can," she said, poking him playfully in the stomach. Conrado jerked backward, a smile on his face.

"You keep that up and you'll be sorry."

"You're ticklish!" she said in surprise, and threw down her purse and used both hands to tickle him anywhere she could.

Conrado couldn't help but laugh. He
was
ticklish, and she’d found his weakness. He flipped the pack from his shoulder, put down the machete and used both his hands for defense.

"Oh, so I'm not the only one that's ticklish," he answered, loving the way she sounded when she laughed. He poked her a few times, and then grabbed her wrists trying to ward off another attack.

They ceased laughing, and he realized he was holding her so close he could feel her heart beating against his chest.

"You're beautiful when you smile," he told her.

"So I'm not beautiful when I'm not smiling?" she asked, showing her little pout once more.

"No," he answered. "When you pout like that you're sexy."

That got a surprised look from her, and he couldn't believe he'd phrased his thoughts out loud.

"Well, you're not so bad yourself," she said, eyes dropping to his bare chest.

"Slugs," he said.

"What?" Her eyebrows raised in wonder.

"It was slugs and wild onions I cooked up for lunch."

"Oh, right!" she laughed and leaned her head against his chest. It felt so good. So damned good he could barely stand it.

"I'm telling the truth," he said, and she looked up with that little pout again.

"You are, aren't you? I can't believe I ate slugs and liked them."

"I can't believe you're not upset I tricked you into eating them."

"You didn't trick me, Conrado. You warned me I wouldn't want to try them if I knew what they were."

Her lips came closer to his, and he couldn't help himself from dipping down and taking one into his mouth. He pulled at it playfully, and released it with a pop.

"One thing about you," she said. "You always tell the truth. That's one thing I can count on, and I truly respect."

She raised her head and kissed him deeply. He wanted to continue, God knew he did, but instead he pulled away.

"What's the matter?" she asked with open eyes. Her expression was guarded, and he couldn’t blame her after what happened in the tree. He wasn't telling her the truth. Not about everything. And she couldn't really count on him. Neither did he want her to.

"Nothing's the matter," he told her. "I just figure if we hurry we can get to the waterfall and cool off."

“Okay,” she said, disappointment painting her face. She picked up her purse and flung it over her shoulder. "I could go for a dip.”

He knew what kind of a dip she'd have to take, and he knew neither one of them had a bathing suit either.

* * *

"Are you sure there aren't any piranhas in here?" she asked, pulling off her pants and standing on the edge of the water in just her tank top and pink cotton panties. Conrado felt hard already, just seeing her strip out of her shorts.

He remembered the way she looked last night when she stood there naked. And he couldn’t keep himself from wanting her. His loins stirred, and he was only glad she hadn't decided to take off everything, or he knew he'd be doing more now than just swimming.

"Thanks for checking," he said, "but the coast is clear of piranhas.”

He was already in the water, not daring to strip off his shorts. He came up to her as she waded in cautiously, waist high.

"But you may want to watch out for the little crabs that reach out and pinch you on the behind." He reached under the water and pinched her bottom. She jumped and screamed, and landed in his arms.

He held her closely, staring into the innocence of her clear blue eyes.

"You seem tense," he said. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing."

He looked at her from the side of his eye and raised his brow. "Are you afraid of me?"

"Not you," she said. "Just the water. I don't know how to swim very well."

He laughed, and she tensed even more.

"Don't worry, Jetta. I'll hold onto you so you won't drown."

He turned her toward the waterfall, holding on to her just as he’d promised.

"Look," he said. "Isn't it one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen?"

"It is absolutely marvelous," she chimed. "It's so breathtaking it doesn't seem real."

The roar of the water crashing down in front of them echoed through the jungle. Birds chirped joyfully, and butterflies flitted from tree to tree. The jungle came to life near the falls. Water droplets sprayed against their faces, cooling them from the scorching sun.

"Hold on to me," he said. "I'm going to take you closer."

"Oh, no. I don't think so. It looks deep."

"It's not that deep, now hold on."

She was holding on around his neck, but her feet kept dangling in the way. He grabbed her legs and pulled them up around his waist. She gasped, and then let out a giggle.

"Here we are in this position again," she said with a grin.

"Yeah," he answered. "Funny how that keeps happening."

He walked deeper into the water. He needed cooling off and he needed it fast. He was now up to his chest in the water and walked right under the falls, drenching them both. The rapid water poured down on them, and she threw her head back letting it wash over her body. It was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. And she still had her clothes on.

What the hell was the matter with him lately that all he could think about was making love with her? He hadn't thought about making love as much in the past year as he had in the past few days.

"I love it," she cried over the roar of the water. "It's so refreshing! I feel so free."

She brought her head back up and plastered her lips against his in a kiss. The water washed over them in torrents. She said she felt so free, so why did he feel so trapped? He wished the water could wash away his guilt, but he knew it wouldn’t.

"Do that again," he shouted over the noise of the water.

"Do what?" she asked.

"Kiss me," he said. "But hold your breath this time."

"You're crazy," she shouted.

"I know that. But that's beside the point. Now do it."

"Gladly."

Jetta took a deep breath, closed her eyes and laid one of her best kisses on Conrado. If this didn't make him want her, she didn't know what else to try. She'd just started the kiss when he pulled her with him under the water.

Her eyes flew open and she tried to pull away, but he held her tight and only sealed their lips with a tighter hold. How could he do this to her? How could he lie that he'd protect her and now pull her under the water to drown?

Then she noticed his hand pointing at something, and her eyes followed. A school of tiny fish swam by, so close she could have reached out and touched them. Fuzzy seaweed swayed back and forth, and polished stones covered the bottom. The sunlight streamed through the water and lit up the entrance to a little hidden opening in the rocks. It was covered with green slime, only it seemed like gold to her. It was a hidden, beautiful world beneath the water.

Just then, he pulled her up out of the water and she released a deep breath and shook the water from her hair, all the while holding on to him tightly.

She slapped him across the face and then pulled him tight and kissed him.

"What was that for?" he asked, laughing.

"The slap was for scaring me out of my mind. The kiss was for helping me overcome my fear of water. It's beautiful down there. Can we do it again?"

"With or without the kiss this time?" he asked.

As much as she hated to decline his invitation to a kiss, she wanted to explore the underwater world with a closer view.

"Without," she said and noticed the way he imitated her pout. "I'll take a raincheck on the kiss, though."

"It's a deal."

They swam under the water hand in hand, Conrado pointing out the little treasures of the hidden world. She marveled at it all. It was all so beautiful, and the moment was all so romantic. They explored, they kissed. They played, teased each other, and kissed some more. Then he carried her out of the water, spread out the blanket and slowly laid her upon it.

A cluster of butterflies danced above their heads and Jetta laid on her back and breathed in their colors of red, blue, green, and yellow.

"I've never seen so many butterflies at once," she told him. "There must be a hundred of them. And look at that one," she said, pointing to a bright blue one about the size of a dinner plate. "It's so huge. Everything's so magical out here. Everything's so beautiful and exciting."

"That's the
morpho
butterfly," he told her. “Its color is entirely from refraction of light rather than pigmentation.”

"I wish I could bring one back to show my students," she told him.

"It's a shame a butterfly's life is counted in weeks," he said laying down next to her. "It goes through so much change. It works so hard to transform from a caterpillar, it seems it deserves a longer life just for the effort."

He sounded so serious. As if he were referring to something besides butterflies.

"Do you believe someone can change?" he asked her.

"Of course I do," she replied as she rubbed her nose.

"I mean . . . could you accept someone who, let's say did something really horrible, though he didn't even realize he was doing it? But he was sorry for what happened, and he wanted to make amends somehow. He wanted to start over. To be someone different. Have a new life."

She sat up and stared at him. He'd never acted like this before. He was almost scaring her, and she didn't really know how to answer.

"What are you talking about?"

"Jetta, I have something to tell you that I should have a long time ago. We need to talk."

Talking was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. She figured he was going to lecture her about getting lost again. Or maybe for touching his blowgun.

"Is this going to ruin the mood?" she asked, picking a long weed and using it to tickle his chest. He grabbed it in his hand and threw it to the ground. He didn't laugh this time. The mood was already spoiled.

"I'd be willing to bet on it."

"Then how about you tell me later?"

She laid across him, her wet body pressed close to his. She ran her hand across his chest and saw him close his eyes in surrender.

"I want you," she told him, and his eyes opened quickly.

"Pardon me?" He seemed so polite, her gentle Tarzan. She had no idea a jungle man could affect her this way.

"I want you to make love to me," she told him outright.

He licked his lips and blinked his eyes. Then he looked at her chest again. His hands pulled her closer to his body and she could feel his own need beneath her.

"Jetta. You don't know what you're saying."

"Conrado, I'm a little old for speeches. I'm twenty-five years old. I know when I want a man, and I'm not too shy to come out and admit it."

"But why?" he asked. "You are beautiful, funny, smart, caring. You could have any man you want. Why me?"

She took a moment before she answered. Her heart was beating faster, and she felt a little apprehensive to tell him. But she knew after they found her brother she may never see Conrado again. She had to tell him how she felt. And she could only hope he felt the same way.